Can Certain Foods Help One Shed Weight?

Along with being inexpensive, filling and versatile for use in your menu; beans are a great source of protein, high in fiber and slow to digest.

When dietitians say that there are delicious foods that help you diet; it just sounds too good to be true.

It seems that all of the things that we deem wonderful to the taste buds are the very things that contribute to more weight and an unhealthy spreading of body parts.

There’s no doubt that weight loss comes down to simple math; one just eats fewer calories than one burns. However, there are actually foods that can help you shed weight. They can contribute to your feeling full for longer periods of time; which helps in reducing food cravings. In addition, there are even foods that will kick your metabolism up a notch; providing a healthy alternative to other choices that may slow the metabolism and add a larger number of calories to your daily consumption. Keep dark chocolate, sausage, nuts and eggs on your grocery list; for they are all on this list.

Beans are a great alternative. Along with being inexpensive, filling and versatile for use in your menu; beans are a great source of protein, high in fiber and slow to digest. This contributes to your feeling full longer, which may prevent eating other more inappropriate foods. Start your meal with a cup of soup and you may end up eating much less. It doesn’t matter what type of soup – chunky or pureed. It’s just important that it is broth-based. Keeping the soup to 100-150 calories per serving is important, so skip the cream or butter.

What? I can eat chocolate and still feel good about my diet? In reality, a square or two of dark chocolate between meals can help curb cravings for more food later. The important point is to choose healthy DARK chocolate over milk chocolate. In one study, chocolate lovers who were given dark chocolate ate 15% less pizza a few hours later than those who had chosen to consume milk chocolate. Dark chocolate, made from the seeds of the cocoa tree, is loaded with nutrients that can improve your health, while helping avoid unhealthy cravings.

Add more vegetables to your diet. You can actually pack these healthy veggies into your cheat foods and cut back on calories while you’re eating. Adding pureed cauliflower or zucchini to a favorite mac and cheese dish allows you to add low-calorie bulk to a tasty favorite. Enjoy 250 -300 fewer calories, while consuming the same amount of food.

Eating a protein-rich breakfast can set you on the right daily nutrition track, boosting metabolism and allowing you to feel full far longer. Eggs and sausage can help one resist snacks throughout the day. Rather than avoiding breakfast altogether or defaulting to sugar-rich cereals or pastries; eating protein-loaded breakfast foods can start you off in a healthy way.

For a healthy snack while on-the-run, turn to nuts, including a handful of almonds, walnuts, peanuts or pecans. Nuts are loaded with healthy fats and proteins. Or, enjoy a crunchy apple. Listed as one of the top healthy foods by researchers, they are extremely rich in important antioxidants, flavonoids and dietary fiber. Whether you prefer Greek or traditional, yogurt can also be a healthy and delicious snack to tide you over until your next meal. And finally, Researchers at Scripps Clinic in San Diego found that when overweight people ate half a grapefruit before each meal, they dropped an average of 3 ½ pounds over 12 weeks. Drinking grapefruit juice had the same results. Although grapefruit juice doesn’t have the same fat-burning properties; it may have helped people feel full.